Black-Palmed Rock Monitor

The Black-Palmed Rock Monitor (Varanus glebopalma)^[3] is a member of the Varanidae family found in Australia. Also known as the Long-tailed Rock Monitor,^[4] it is a member of the subgenus Odatria.^[5]. is found in the north part of Australia in Northern Territory, Western Australia as well as Queensland. Specifically, the distribution of Varanus glebopalma extends from Mount Isa in the east to the Kimberleys in the west.^[6]. Their habitat is areas of rock escarpment and large populations may be found in small areas.^[7].

Diet

In the wild Black-Palmed Rock Monitors prefer to eat insects, lizards and other small vertebrates.^[8]

Description

The Black-Palmed Rock Monitor reaches a total length of just over 100 cm.^[9] The coloration of Varanus glebopalma on the back shows a black ground color with some light brown scales. These form a "reticulated pattern at the sides or small ocelli with a black central spot on top." The top sides of the head and the limbs are black with little light brown or cream-colored spots which "flow together".^[10] Their limbs have larger spots. The scientific name of this species, "glebopalma", refers to the shiny black pads found on the underside of the feet.^[11]

References

1. ^ JCVI.org
2. ^ Kingsnake.com
3. ^ EOL.org
4. ^ Biolib.cz
5. ^ Monitor-lizards.de
6. ^ Monitor-lizards.de JCVI.org
7. ^ Mampam.com
8. ^ Losos, J.B. & Greene, H.W. (1988). Ecological and evolutionary implications of diet in monitor lizards. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 35:379-407.
9. ^ Storr G.M. (1980). The monitor lizards (genus Varanus Merrem, 1820) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 8(2) 1980: 237-293.
10. ^ Monitor-lizards.net
11. ^ Mampam.com

• Monitor-lizards.de

Further reading

• Photos of Varanus glebopalma at Kingsnake.com
• of Varanus glebopalma at Pbase.com
• Photos at Flickr
• Boulenger, G.A. (1885). Catalogue of lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 2.
• Bennet, D.F. (2003). Australian Monitors. Reptilia (GB) (30): 12-19
• Brandenberg, T. (1983). Monitors in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. 1-121. E.J. Brill, Leide.
• Cogger,H.G. (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 6th ed. Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island, 808 pp.
• De Lisle, H.F. (1996). Natural History of Monitor Lizards. Krieger, Malabar (Florida)
• De ROOIJ, N. (1915). The reptiles of the Indo-Australian archipelago. E.J. Brill, Leiden.
• Eidenmüller, B. (2007). Small monitors in the terrarium. Reptilia (GB) (50): 12-19
• Eidenmüller, B. (2007). Kleinwarane im Terrarium. Reptilia (Münster) 12 (1): 16-23
• Horn, H. G. & Schürer, U. (1978). Bernerkungen zu Varanus (Odatria) glebopalma Mitchell, 1955 (Reptilia: Sauria: Varanidae). Salamandra 14: 105-116
• Mertens, R. (1958). Bemerkungen über die Warane Australiens. Senckenberg. Biol. 39: 229-264
• Mitchell, F. J. (1955). Preliminary account of the Reptilia and Amphibia collected by the National Geographic Society - Commonwealth Government - Smithsonian Institution Expedition to Arnhem Land (April to November, 1948). Rec. S. Aust. Mus. 11: 373-408
• Storr G.M. (1980). The monitor lizards (genus Varanus Merrem, 1820) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 8(2) 1980: 237-293
• Swanson, S. (1979). Some rock-dwelling reptiles of the Arnhem Land escarpment. N. Territory Nat. 1: 14-18